COLUMBIA, S.C. — Labor Day weekend had more than a little Ragin’ Cajun flavor to it around these parts.

On Friday night in Charlotte, N.C., former UL Lafayette star Jake Delhomme had a perfect 11-of-11 night (see related story, page 1D) in leading the Carolina Panthers to a 21-14 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL exhibition play.

Unfortunately, one of Delhomme’s two touchdown passes was completed over Steelers rookie Ike Taylor, an emerging cornerback who was a senior with the Cajuns last season and was a fourth-round draft choice by Pittsburgh.

Taylor had good coverage on the play, but Delhomme threw an artful touch pass over the receiver’s outside shoulder for the 31-yard score.

All is not lost, though. Taylor should stick with the Steelers. It’s clear they need his speed and athleticism in a suspect secondary that allowed the Panthers to hit a combined 26-of-32 passes.

Taylor also had outside containment on kickoff coverage and returned a kickoff 19 yards.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com